“We’ve closed for the day” – Asaba Airport turns back Arik aircraft

There was drama Friday evening as an Arik Air flight traveling from Lagos to Asaba, Delta State, was forced to return mid-air as it approached Asaba Airport.

The incident happened around 6.15p.m.

Flight W3 628 had to return to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, after airport officials told the pilot the facility was “closed for the day”.

Arik spokesperson, Olabanji Ola, confirmed the incident.

“When the pilot approached the Asaba Airport, the control tower told him it would be too late for the aircraft to take off again if it lands in the airport.

“The airport is for daylight operation because it does not have traffic lighting. So, there’s a particular time if the pilot enters the airport the plane would not be able to take off again because of sunset”.

He noted that the airline was aware of the limitation at the Asaba airport, but that “the normal time the airport is supposed to close which the airport gave us is 6.30 p.m.”

Ola, however, said that the airline was not liable for any damage the passengers may have suffered because of the incident.

“What has happened is a force majeure, the airline is not liable. In this circumstances, what we did was to reschedule the flight for next day.

“It is not as if we have canceled the flight. Any passenger that is not ready to be on the flight again, we will refund the fare”.